Concrete Leveling
Fix sunken concrete slabs quickly and affordably without the cost and mess of full replacement.
What Causes Concrete to Sink
Concrete slabs sink when the soil underneath them settles, washes away, or compresses over time. This happens for several reasons. Poorly compacted fill soil gradually compacts under the weight of the concrete. Heavy rain or poor drainage erodes soil from under the slab. Tree roots grow and then die, leaving voids. Freeze-thaw cycles in winter cause soil to expand and contract. Whatever the cause, the result is the same. Your driveway, sidewalk, or patio develops uneven sections that create trip hazards, drainage problems, and an overall worn-out appearance.
Many homeowners assume they need to tear out and replace sunken concrete. That is expensive, time-consuming, and creates a huge mess. Concrete leveling offers a better solution. Also called slabjacking or mudjacking, this process lifts sunken slabs back to their original position without removing anything. We drill small holes through the concrete, pump a specialized material underneath to fill voids and lift the slab, then patch the holes. The whole process typically takes just a few hours, costs a fraction of replacement, and you can use the area the same day.
This technique works well for driveways, sidewalks, garage floors, patios, and pool decks throughout Knightdale, NC. As long as the concrete itself is in decent shape, leveling can restore it to like-new condition. The only time leveling does not work is when the concrete is severely cracked or deteriorated. In those cases, replacement becomes the better option.
How Concrete Leveling Works
We use modern polyurethane foam injection for most leveling projects. This lightweight, expanding foam fills voids under the slab and lifts it back into position. The process is cleaner and more precise than older methods that used heavy mud mixtures. Here is what happens during a typical leveling job.
Step-by-Step Leveling Process
- Assessment: We evaluate your concrete to determine if leveling will work and identify what caused the settling so we can address underlying issues.
- Drilling: Small holes about the size of a penny are drilled through the sunken slab at strategic locations. These provide access points for the injection material.
- Injection: Polyurethane foam is pumped through the holes. The material expands to fill voids and gradually lifts the slab back to the correct level.
- Monitoring: We carefully control the lifting process, monitoring the slab height to ensure it reaches the exact level needed without over-lifting.
- Cleanup: Once the slab is level, we patch the injection holes with concrete. The patches blend with the existing surface and cure quickly.
The foam cures in about 15 minutes, so you can use the area almost immediately after we finish. Compare that to concrete replacement which requires excavation, several days of work, and a week or more of curing time before you can drive on it. Leveling gets you back to normal quickly with minimal disruption.
Why Choose Leveling Over Replacement
Cost is the obvious advantage. Leveling typically costs 50 to 70 percent less than tearing out and replacing concrete. You save money while getting results that can last just as long as new concrete. The time savings matter too. A leveling project that takes half a day would take several days if you replaced the concrete instead. Less time means less disruption to your daily routine and less time dealing with construction around your home.
Leveling is also much cleaner than replacement. No heavy equipment tearing up your yard. No dump trucks hauling away old concrete. No concrete trucks blocking your driveway. Just a small van with our equipment and a crew that works efficiently and cleans up thoroughly when done. Your landscaping stays intact and your property looks the same when we leave, just with level concrete instead of sunken slabs.
The environmental benefits are worth mentioning too. Keeping existing concrete out of landfills and avoiding the carbon footprint of new concrete production makes leveling the greener choice. You get a practical solution that saves money while being more sustainable. For most settling issues, leveling is simply the smarter option. If you have other concrete needs, we handle those too as part of a complete property improvement plan.
Common Questions About Concrete Leveling
Got Sunken or Uneven Concrete?
Call us today for a free inspection and estimate. We will evaluate your concrete and determine if leveling is the right solution.
(984) 733-8891